No fewer than five people have been abducted by some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers at Amurin village on the Akure-Owo Expressway in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, was said to have thrown travellers and motorists on the road into panic.

It was gathered that the hoodlums operated for several minutes as they barricaded the road and stopped the vehicle conveying the victims, who were coming from Owo.

A source stated that the victims were members of staff of the Federal Medical Centre and the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, both in Owo.

A doctor at the FMC told Newsmen on condition of anonymity that the victims included a doctor and two nurses from the institution, as well as lecturers of the polytechnic.

He said, “The victims were medical staff members of the FMC. They were returning to Akure after the close of work on Tuesday evening. One of them is a pregnant doctor, and two nurses of the FMC. Some lecturers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic were also kidnapped.

“This is a very pathetic development in this country. Last week, some travellers were kidnapped in the Akoko area. They were later released after the families of all of them had paid ransom.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, confirmed the latest incident but stated that only two people were kidnapped by the hoodlums. He, however, did not disclose the identities of the victims.

Joseph said, “Only two people were abducted. The hoodlums operated on the expressway like armed robbers but immediately they heard that our men were approaching, they fled with the two victims.

“Investigation has commenced and our men have already been deployed in the area to free the victims and arrest the hoodlums.”

It was gathered that the hoodlums had not contacted the families of the victims to demand ransom as of the time of filing this report.